Conveyer



Feb. 17, 1942. A. A. Ko'r'rMANN CONVEYER original Filed April 2s, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheell l rthur' Kotmann aft/501440510 Feb. 17, 1942. A. A. KOTTMANN CONVEYER Original Filed April 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Syvum/bem /55 -W/gy rt-hur-Kottmanu Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITD STATES PATEN Tv Y OFFICE CONVEYER Original application April 23, 1938, Serial No.

203,865. Divided and this application September 10, 1940, Serial No. 356,169

20 Claims. (Cl. 198-168) This invention relates to machines forpack:

aging articles, and more particularly to, loaf handling and conveying apparatus for use in the packaging of sliced bread. 'I'his application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 203,865, led April 23, 1938.

The customary arrangement of packaging equipmentin modern bakeries includes a slicing machine and a wrapping machine coupled together so that bread, loaded onto the infeed conveyor of theV slicing machine, is fed into the slicing machine and sliced, then automatically forwarded from the slicer to the wrapping machine and discharged from the latter in package form. During the slicing operation, overhanging crust portions on the ends of the bread loaves are frequently severed, forming what is known in the trade as sliver heels. These sliver heels, together with crumbs and the like resulting from the slicing process, if carried along by the loaves into the wrapping machine, may interfere with the proper wrapping of the bread, as well as cause unsightly packages.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide, in apparatus for handling bread loaves, means for automatically separating sliver heels, crumbs, and the like from the sliced loaves so that the latter can be delivered t a bread wrapping machine free of crumbs and sliver heels and in proper form for making neat and attractive packages. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a crumb and sliver heel eliminator associated with the conveyer which carries sliced bread loaves from the slicing machine to the wrapping machine.

Another object is to provide, in combination with a slicing machine and a wrapping machine, a sliced bread loaf conveyer having adjustable loaf supporting means adapted to underlie only the portions of the sliced bread that constitute the loaf to be packaged.

Another object is to provide a generally improved conveyer for transferring sliced bread loaves from a slicing machine to a wrapping machine, which includes means for simultaneously adjusting the article guides and the loaf supporting aprons to different widths for the purpose of accommodating bread loaves of diiferent sizes, and means dening a transverse slot in the conveyer through which crumbs, sliver heels and the like are adapted to drop so as to be separated from the bread loaves'as the latter pass over the slot.

Another object is to provide an improved loaf handling apparatus for bread slicing and wrapping machines which is simple in design and construction and inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and which may be readily adjusted to accommodate .bread loaves of diierent size. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds. This description is made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are identified by the same numerals of reference throughout the several views. Although the machine illustrated and described is intended primarily for the wrapping of bread loaves, the features of the invention embodied in the particular construction and combination of parts, are applicable and advantageous for use in machines of other kinds.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view, with parts removed, of a wrapping machine-slicing machine combination embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts removed, showing the combination illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts removed, showing the crumb and sliver heel eliminator which is disposed at the receiving end of the conveyer that carries sliced bread loaves from the slicing machine to the wrapping machine;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in section taken longitudinally through the conveyer substantially on the line 8 6 of Fig. 3.

The general combination of bread handling devices with which the apparatus of the present invention can be used is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the wrapping machine is indicated at I, and the slicing machine is indicated at 2. The wrapping machine includes a pair of side frames 5 and E, between which extend a plurality of cross members, one of which is indicated at 1. Reciprocable slicing blades (not shown) are suitably mounted within` the side frames 3 of the slicing machine and are driven by an electric motor. The remainder of the mechanism, including all the conveyers for both the wrapping machine and the slicing machine,

together with the wrapping mechanism, is driven in synchronous timed relation by a motor 4 mounted on the wrapper. A V-belt 26, driven by spring pressed split pulley 25, secured on the connected to an arm 142.

motor drive shaft, rotates a large pulley wheel 21 which is carried exteriorly of the wrapping machine on a. drive shaft of the latter which is journaled in the side frame 6. The drive for the wrapping machine and conveyer ls through a friction clutch (not shown) controlled by a hand lev'er 54 secured to a vertical rod 53 mounted on the side frame of the wrapper and connected to the aforementioned clutch by a suitable linkage. An adjustable length tie rod 56 extends horizontally between a lever 51 secured on the rod 53 and a lever 58 securedv on a vertically positioned rod 59 rotatably mounted in brackets on the side frame of the slicing machine. By means of a handle 00 secured on the rod 59, the clutch mechanism just described, which drives all the wrapping and conveying ,mechanisms may be controlled from adjacent the slicing machine to facilitate one man operation of the packaging combination.

Articles to be sliced, which in this case are bread loaves, are deposited on infeed conveyer I3 of the slicing machine 2 between spaced parallel guides 29 thereof, the latter being adjustable toward and away from one another. The loaves are fed by the conveyer to and through the aforementioned slicing blades or cutters. Released from the slicing machine over its discharge plate or support member I9, Fig. 3, the sliced loaves or articles are individually engaged by the flights of the forwarding conveyer, to be later described. In the wrapping machine I, the articles or loaves are received one at a time on a vertically reciprocable carrier 500 mounted on guides 505 and actuated through a linkage 539 driven by gear 3|. Wrapping material W, which may be composed of several thicknesses of paper or the like, is contained in supply rolls Rl, R2, and R3 mounted on shafts E carried by brackets 200 adjustably mounted on smooth rods 202. The brackets 200 may be moved along the shafts 202 toward and away from one another by means of rotatable rods 204, having oppcsitely threaded ends threaded in the brackets 200 and provided with hand Wheels 205, by means of which the rods can be rotated.

The wrapping material W is advanced by feed rolls controlled by a clutch structure mounted on a shaft having a hand wheel 210, the clutch being engaged and disengaged by means of a lever 29| which is shifted in response t0 the movement of the wrapping mechanism and a control descrbed in my above identified application. Suta 1e lengths of the Wrapping material W, advanced over supporting tray 2|9 and tensioned by means of a roller carried on arms 226, are severed therefrom by a cutter movable on guides 605, and the severed wrapping material .is positioned in front of the advancing loaf by means of carrier bars actuated by a link 306.

As the partially wrapped loaves are individually elevated by the carrier 500, the projecting end portions of the wrapping material are folded downwardly by top end folders 123. At the upper c ,limit of movement of the carrier, the loaf mounted thereon is pushed into the folding and sealing channel of the wrapper by a pusher 135 mounted on a ram 131 which is actuated by a link 139 This arm is actuated by a lever 146 oscillated by means of a linkage 141 connecting the same to the shaft on which the drive gear 3| is mounted. After each loaf is pushed into the folding and sealing channel, the wrapper is drawn snugly underneath the same by a wrapper tensioning mechanism under the control of a lever 561.

Bottom plate 800 of the sealing channel is heated, and heated folders 002 are provided for folding projecting portions of the wrapping material against the ends of the article. If desired, a supplemental bottom heating plate may be provided to heat the overlapped wrapped portions on the bottom of the article. The heaters are electrical and are controlled by a switch 831 mounted on the machine frame. The wrapped articles discharged from the folding and sealing channel are received on a bottom conveyer belt 840 and between side conveyer belts 84|. The latter are carried around rotatable members 86| supported by vertical spindles 860. If desired, cooling tanks 864 may be provided which are carried by support members 865 and 866.

The spindles 860 at the slicing machine end of the belt discharge conveyer, as well as similar spindlesat the wrapping machine end thereof, are mounted for movement toward and away from one another on transverse or cross shafts, one of which is indicated at 854. The movement of the spindles 860 toward and away from one another is controlled by a threaded shaft 9| rotated by a sprocket 9|2 secured thereon and having a chain belt 909 trained thereover. A similar arrangement is provided at the wrapping machine end of the discharge conveyer.

The chain belt 909 is actuated by a sprocket (not shown) secured on the shaft corresponding tothe shaft 9|| and which is disposed at the wrapping machine end of the discharge conveyer. This shaft carries a hand wheel 906, by means of which the same may be rotated so that the side belts 84| can be adjusted toward and away from one another while maintained in parallelism. The belts 840 and 84| of th:J discharge conveyer are driven by a sprocket 81u' which has a chain 811 trained thereover, the latter being actuated by a driven sprocket (not shown) actuated by the pulley 21.

As Wrapped articles are moved into the discharge conveyer channel, the tops thereof are engaged by holddowns 880 swingably mounted on uprights 885 and vertically adjustable by means of hand wheels 886. Articles released from the discharge conveyer are received on a platform 893 carried by extensions 850 of the slicing machine frame.

By means of the combination briefly described above, and which is more fully explained in my copending application previously mentioned, a single operator stationed adjacent the slicing machine 2 can load unsliced bread loaves on the infeed conveyer |3 and unload the wrapped sliced loaves from the platform 893. In the movement of the articles or loaves from the infveed conveyer I3 to the receiving tray 893 through the slicing and wrapping instrumentalities, the slicing and wrapping operations are entirely automatic and usually not even observed by the operator, who is fully occupied in loading and unloading the apparatus. 1t is therefore of paramount importance that the slicing and wrapping be performed as accurately as possible and without interruption. Furthermore, it is important that the completed packages be neat in appearance and free from unnecessary crumbs and sliver heels.

In order to provide for elimination of the crumbs and sliver heels, the discharge conveyer of the slicing machine, which also serves as the another.

amant infeed conveyer of the wrapping machine, is built as illustrated in Figs. 3 through 6. The conveyer comprises spaced parallel supporting or side frame members and |0| which may be sultably formed oi metal channels disposed in opposed relation to one another with vertical web portions and inwardly disposed flanges, so that the channels of the members open towards one The ends of the supporting members |00 and |0| are carried by th'e side frames 3 of the slicing machine and the side frames and 6 of the wrapping machine. One or more cross members such as indicated at |02 may be used to connect the side frame members |00 and |0|.

Conveyer side chains or belts |08 are disposed in spaced parallel relation and are endless. These chains are carried by rotatable members.v mounted at the ends of the conveyer and are driven by the motor 4 of the wrapper through suitable means (not shown).I At the slicing machine end of the forwarding conveyer the rotatable members around which the chains are trained include a pair of spaced sprockets |08 carried by a transverse shaft |I0. This shaft is journaled in nttings carried by the side frame members |00 and |0| and which engage the shaft inwardly of the sprockets. A shaft and sprockets (not shown) are provided at the wrapping machine end of the forwarding conveyer for supporting the endless side chains |08 and correspond to the shaft ||0 and the sprockets |09 just described. The ends of the frame or support members |00 and |0| adjacent the slicer have brackets ||4 secured on the outside thereof. These brackets are supported on the inside of th'e slicing machine frames 3.

Extending between and carried by the upperfmost nanges of the supporting members |00 and |0| is an article supporting apron l5 disposed at the wrapping machine end of the conveyer. The side marginal portions ofthe apron are bent or formed to extend upwardly to provide rails ||6 parallel to the supporting members |00 and |0|. The end of the apron ||5 at the wrapping machine end of the forwarding conveyer is lreferred to as the infeed station of the wrapping machine since it is here that articles first engage the wrapping material W and are then moved onto the reciprocable carrier 500.

'I'he endless conveyer belts or chains |08 carry o between them at uniformly spaced intervals transverse nights ||1 having auxiliary upstanding pusher plates or elements ||8. Th'ese pusher plates may have cutaway portions, indicated at |2|, to clear the loaf measuring fingers (not shown) of the paper feeding mechanism. T he nights ||1 are journaled in extensions of speclal link elements of the chains |08 and are rotatably carried above and in spaced relation with respect to the apron ||5 of the conveyer. ,y

As each flight is carried around the sprockets |09 at the slicing machine end of the conveyer, the auxiliary pusher ||8 thereof trails the main night ||1 so that the latter may pass closely adjacent the underside of the discharge plate I9 of the slicing machine. Secured to one end of each of the nights ||1 is a cam lever ||9 which rides upon a track extending longitudinally of the .conveyer over the supporting member |0|. The cam lever and track cooperate to rotate the night to elevate the night pusher portion or auxiliary plate ||8 after it passes the discharge plate I8 and retain the night in an upright position while the article is advanced thereby.

Each article discharged from the slicing machine is engaged by one of the nights ||1 and is advanced thereby a short distance toward the wrapping machine prior to the rotation of th'e auxiliary pushers I8 into upright article contacting position. This elevation of the auxiliary pushers serves may be riding on top of the nights, so that the articles are positively moved along the conveyer apron or aprons in advance ofthe nights. 'I'he auxiliary pushers I8 remain in engagement with the articles until th'e latter are received by the carrier 600 of the wrapping mechanism. The auxiliary pushers extend for a substantial distance above the apron or aprons of the forwarding conveyer and provide a firm support for a large portion of the rear side of each article being advanced.

The crumb and sliver heel eliminator comprises a pair of longitudinally extending article supporting plates or aprons |30 and |3| which are laterally adjustable and telescoplcally arranged beneath and in lapping relation to a fixed central longitudinally extending apron or plate |32. The plates or apron members |30, |3| and |32 receive the sliced loaves directly from the discharge plate or apron I9 of the slicing machine and support the loaves as they are advanced toward the conveyer apron ||5. The central apron or plate |32 is supported on cross bars |33 which extend transversely of the forwarding conveyer and have their ends secured to the longitudinal supporting members |00 and |0|. Spacing members |34 are mounted on the centers of the bars |33 and are secured to central portions of the underside of the plate |32 so as to carry the latter in elevated or spaced relation with respect to the bars |33. The side members or plates |30 and |3| are disposed between the apron |32 and .the bars |33 and are carried on shafts |35 and |36 having oppositely threaded ends wh'ich receive threaded blocks or members |31 secured to the underside of the plates |30 and |3|. The shafts |35 and |36 are journaled in the longitudinal support members |00 and |0| and one end of each shaft extends through the support |0| .to receive a sprocket |40 which is secured thereon. A chain |4| is trained over the sprockets |40 so that the shafts |35 and |38 may be rotated in synchronism.- y

l.A bracket |42, secured to the supporting member 0|, journals an extended portion of the shaft |36 which has -a sprocket |43 secured thereto. AA chain |44 is trained around the sprocket |43 and a sprocket |45, Fig. 1, secured on the shaft 9|| of the discharge conveyer previously described. Thus, the chain |44 is arranged to rotate the shafts |35 and |36 simultaneously with the rotation of the shafts which adjust the distance between the side belts 84| of the dis- ,charge conveyer.

Accordingly, the plates or aprons |30 and |3| may be moved toward and away from one another beneath the central supporting plate |32 synchronously with the movement of the side belts 84| of the discharge conveyer. Thus, the effective article supporting width of the combined plates |30, |3| and |32 may be adjusted to articles of different lengths so that outer marginal edges |46 of the plates may be disposedto underlie the end slices or heels of one of the loaves A being advanced over the forwarding conveyer. When the plates'or aprons are so adjusted, crumbs or sliver heels lying beyond the ends of the'loaves discharged from the plate I9 of the slicing machine drop to thrust forward articles that` below the level of the conveyer aprons into a suitable receptacle (not shown).

The discharge ends |49 of the plates or aprons |30, I3| and |32 are spaced from receiving end |52 of the apron II5, as shown in Fig. 6, to provide a transverse slot |50 extending across the entire width of the forwarding conveyer. Crumbs and sliver heels sach as indicated at |5I and which are carried forward over the aprons or plates |30, I3| and |32, drop through the slot or opening |50 into a suitable receptacle instead of being carried along with the article to be wrapped therewith or to interfere with the packaging process. Preferably, the receiving edge |52 of the apron II5 is rounded or bent downwardly to engage the leading bottom edges of the loaves and guide or direct the loaves onto the apron II5, thus preventing snagging or catching of the loaves on the edge of the apron.

Side guides or rails 9|5 are disposed in spaced parallel relation above the edges |46 of the aprons or plates and I3| and extend longitudinally of the forwarding conveyer. If desired, these guides may be continuous from the discharge plate I9 of the slicing machine to the infeed station of the wrapping machine, passing over the portion of the forwarding conveyer formed by the adjustable or lapped aprons and also that portion formed by the apron Il5. The guides or rails 9I5 may be formed of channel members having the channels facing outwardly so that the flat web portions engage the ends of the articles. The guide rails SI5 are mounted on the bottom ends of vertically disposed adjustable rods 9|8 at the slicing machine end of the apparatus and on similar rods (not shown) at the wrapping machine end of the apparatus. The rods are adjustably carried in brackets 9I9 which are movable with the spindles 860 of the belt discharge conveyer structure. Accordingly, as the side belts 84| of the discharge conveyer are moved toward or away from one another by means of the hand wheel 906 for the purpose of -adjusting the mechanism to accommodate articles of dierent length, the space between the guide rails SI5 is automatically adjusted in synchronism therewith. Furthermore, and as previously described, the chain |44 actuates the threaded rods and |36 so as to move the aprons |30 and I3| toward and away from one another in synchronism with the guide rails SI5 and the side belts 84| of the discharge conveyer.

As shown in Figs. 3 through 5, the adjustment of the parts is such that the space between the guide rails 9|5 is approximately equal to the space between the turned-under edges |46 of the adjustable aprons |30 and I3|. Preferably, the edges |46 of the adjustable aprons may be maintained slightly closer together than the distance between the rails SI5, so that the ends of articles moving over the crumb and sliver heel eliminator project slightly beyond the edges of the aprons. In this manner the discharge of all crumbs and sliver heels from the aprons |30, I3| and |32 is assured. These aprons are slidingly arranged with respect to one another and can be adjusted to move the edges |46 closer together or further apart while being maintained in parallelism.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. A conveyer for carrying sliced bread loaves from a slicing machine, said conveyer having an apron for supporting the loaves, and opposite substantially parallel edge portionsof the conveyer apron being movable toward and away from one another in parallelism to adjust the eiective article supporting width of the apron to loaves of different size.

2. A conveyer for carrying sliced bread loaves from a slicing machine, said conveyer having an apron for supporting the loaves, spaced substantially parallel article guide means above the conveyer apron, means for varying the space between the guides, means for varying the effective loaf supporting width of the conveyer apron, and means effecting simultaneous adjustment of the guide space varying means and apron width varying means.

3. A conveyer for carrying sliced articles from a slicing machine, said conveyer having an apron for supporting the articles, and a portion of the apron comprising a pair of members in underlying supp-orting relation with respect to the articles, said members being movable toward and away from one another and each having an edge portion substantially paralleling the path of the articles.

4. A conveyer for carrying sliced articles from a slicing machine, said conveyer having an apron for supporting the articles, a portion of the apron comprising a pair of members in underlying supporting relation with respect to the articles, said members being movable toward and away from one another and each having an edge portion substantially paralleling the path of the articles, article guides disposed above the conveyer apron and movable toward and away from one another to accommodate articles of different sizes, means for adjusting the article guides, and means associated with said guide adjusting means for moving said members in synchronism with the guides and simultaneously therewith.

5. In bread handling apparatus, an adjustable conveyer apron comprising a number of flat, elongated loaf supporting members disposed in overlapping relation to one another and with the outer edges of the members in spaced parallel relation to one another, and means for moving at least one of the members relative to the other to vary the spacing between said edges While maintaining said parallel relation to adjust the members for bread loaves 0f different sizes.

6. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for sliced loaves comprising overlapped aprons for supporting the loaves, spaced parallel adjustable guides for engaging the ends of loaves moving over the aprons to center the same thereon, pusher means for advancing the loaves sideways over the aprons with the ends of the loaves in contact with the guides, and means for adjusting the apr-ons to position the outer edges thereof approximately the same distance apart as the guides.

'7. In bread handling apparatus, a .conveyer for sliced loaves comprising overlapped aprons for supporting the loaves, spaced parallel adjustable guides for engaging the ends of loaves moving over the aprons to center the same thereon, spaced, substantially parallel belts, a plurality of porting the apron means with said edges substantially free and unobstructed to permit crumbs and sliver heels carried from the slicing machine by the-loaves to be discharged laterally therefrom, `guide rails and means supporting the same in spaced parallel relation to one an.- other and above the apron means, the guide rail spacing being approximately equal to the width of the apron means between the side edges of the latter, and means for pushing sliced loaves, received from the slicing machine on the apron means, sideways over the latter between the guide rails whereby the loaves are advanced with the loa-f ends moving along the edges of the apron means and crumbs and sliver heels from the loaves are discharged laterally from the edges of the apron means and under the guide rails.

9. In bread handling apparatus a conveyer comprising first apron means for supporting sliced loaves advancing sideways thereover, said means having spaced, substantially parallel side edges extending longitudinally thereof, means for supporting the apron means with said edges substantially free and unobstructed to permit crumbs and sliver heels carried from the slicing machine by the loaves to be discharged laterally therefrom, guide rails and means supporting the same in spaced parallel relation to one another and above the apron means, the guide rail spacing being approximately equal to the width of the apron means between the side edges of fthe latter, second apron means extending as a continuation of the first apron means and separated therefrom by an air gap across substantially the entire width of the first apron means, said gap providing an escape for crumbs and the like which are pushed along the first apron means width of the first apron means, said gap providing an escape for crumbs and the like which are pushed along the nrst apron means by advancing loaves and drop by gravity of! the end thereof,v -said 'guide rails being continuous over the gap and the second apron means, the end edge of the second apron means along the gap being inclined downwardly to underlie and guide the leading edge of an advancing loaf onto said second apron means, and means for pushing sliced loaves from the slicing machine sideways -over the rst and second apron means between the guide rails whereby the loaves are advanced with the loaf ends moving along the ledges of the first apron means.

11. In bread handling apparatus a conveyer comprising flrst apron means for supporting sliced loaves advancing sideways thereover, said means having spaced, substantially parallel side edges extending longitudinally thereof, means for supporting the apron means with said edges substantially free and unobstructed to permit crumbs and sliver heels carried from the slicing machine by the loaves to be discharged laterally therefrom, guide rails and means supporting the same in spaced parallel relation to one another and above th apron means, the guide rail spacing being approximately equal to the width of the apron means between the side edges of the latter, second apron means extending as a continuation of the first apron means and separated therefrom by an.air gap across substantially the entire width of the rst apron means, said gap providing an escape for crumbs and the like which are pushed along the rst apron means by advancing loaves and drop by gravity olf the end thereof, said guide rails being continuous over the gap and the second apron means, and means for pushing sliced loaves from the slicing machine sideways over the first and second apron means between the guide rails whereby the loaves are advanced with the loaf ends moving along the edges of the rst apron means, said pushing means comprising flights and means mounting the same for movement over the apron means, the flights each being of greater length than the width of the first apron means and their ends extending laterally under the guide rails and beby advancing loaves and drop by gravity oif the end thereof, said guide rails being continuous over the gap and the second apron means, and means for pushing sliced loaves from the slicing machine sideways over the first and second apron means between the guide rails whereby the loaves are advanced with the loaf ends moving along the edges of the first apron means.

10. In bread handling apparatus a conveyer comprising rst apron means for supporting sliced loaves advancing sideways thereover, said means having spaced, substantially parallel side edges'extending longitudinally thereof., means for supporting the apron means with said edges substantially free and unobstructed to permit crumbs and sliver heels carried from the slicing machine by the loaves to be discharged laterally therefrom, guide rails and means supporting the same in spaced parallel relation to one another and above the apron' means, the guide rail spacing being approximately equal to the width of the apron means between the side edges of the latter, second apron means extending as a continuation of the first apron means and separated therefrom by an air gap across substantially the entire yond the side edges of said first apron means.

12. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of spaced guide rails and means mounting the same above and in approximate parallelism with the edges of the aprons, and means for simultaneously shifting the aprons laterally to move the edges toward and away from one another while maintaining the same in parallelism.

13. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of spaced guide rails and means mounting the same above and in approximate parallelism with the edges of the aprons, means for simultaneously shifting the aprons laterally to move the edges toward and away from one another while maintaining the same in parallelism, and means movable over the aprons to advance loaves thereon between the rails. l

14. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer` for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges. a pair of spaced guide rails and means mounting the same above and in approximate parallelism with the edges of the aprons, means for simultaneously shifting the aprons laterally to move the edges toward and away from one another while maintaining the same in parallelism, and flights having means for moving the same over the aprons to advance loaves thereover between the rails, said ilights being of greater length than the widest possible spacing of the apron edges and being disposed for movement underneath the rails throughout their loaf advancing path.

15. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of spaced guide rails and means mounting the same above and in approximate parallelism with the edges of the aprons, and means mounting the aprons for simultaneous lateral shifting to move the edges toward and away from one another, said last named means including a rod having oppositely threaded ends and members secured to the aprons and threaded on the rod ends.

16. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of rods disposed transversely of the aprons and in spaced parallel relation to one another, said rods having oppositely threaded ends, members secured to the underside of the aprons and threaded on the rod ends, and means for rotating the rods to move the members and the apron edges toward and away from one another.

17. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of rods disposed transversely of the aprons and in spaced parallel relation to one another, said rods having oppositely threaded ends, members threaded on the rod ends and connected to longitudinally spaced portions of the aprons, and means for rotating the rods in synchronism to shift the aprons laterally and to thereby move the apron edges toward and away from one another while maintaining such edges in parallelism.

18. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of loaf supporting aprons having spaced, substantially parallel outside edges, a pair of rods disposed transversely of the aprons and in spaced parallel relation to one another, said rods having oppositely threaded ends, members threaded on the rod ends and connected to longitudinally spaced portions of the aprons, means for rotating the rods in synchronism to shift the aprons laterally and to thereby move the apron edges toward and away from one another while maintaining such edges in parallelism, a pair of spaced guide rails and means mounting the same above the apron edges and for movement toward and away from one another whereby the spacing between the guides can be corelated to the spacing of the apron edges.

19. In bread handling apparatus, a conveyer for forwarding sliced loaves comprising a pair of spaced side members, cross members extending between the side members, a central loai supporting apron mounted on the cross members, a pair of side aprons each disposed in lapping relation to the central apron and having spaced parallel side edges, said cross members including a pair of rods having oppositely threaded ends, threaded members mounted on the rod ends and having connection with the side aprons, spaced guide rails disposed above and in parallelism with the apron edges, means mounting the rails for movement toward and away from one another, and means for simultaneously actuating the rods and the rail mounting means to shift the side aprons and the rails in synchronism whereby the space between the apron edges is maintained in deiinte relation to the space between the rails.

20. A conveyer for receiving and advancing sliced bread loaves comprising apron means for supporting the loaves and having spaced marginal side edges, and means for varying the e'ifective loaf supporting width of the apron means by movement of said edges toward and away from one another to adjust the conveyer for loaves of various sizes so that advancing loaves move over the conveyer with opposite ends of the loaves closely adjacent the marginal edges of the apron means.

ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN. 

